John Edward Hoy, age 70, of 17 Cliftwood Drive, Eagle Rock, Virginia, was a born again Christian who went to be with his Lord after a courageous battle with cancer on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke.

Born August 23, 1940 in Madison, West Virginia, John was the son of the late George Bruce and Callie Odell Chandler Hoy.

He served in the United States Army, and was a retired paper inspector for Westvaco.

He was a faithful member of Iron Gate Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and trustee, operated the sound system, and was instrumental in starting the food pantry of the church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Hoy in 1942.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Irene Nicholas Hoy of Eagle Rock; four daughters, Vicki Kern and husband, Darrell of Eagle Rock, Elizabeth Chenault and husband, Robert of Clifton Forge, Cheryl Chaplin and husband, Tony of Stuarts Draft, and Johnnie Anderson and husband, Charles of Covington; a son, Paul Hoy and wife, Marcie of Selma; a sister, Yvonne Y. Browning and husband, Jesse of Covington; eleven grandchildren, Darrell John and fiance Karie, Kaitlyn, Heather and husband, James, Kristen, John, Nicholas, Donovan, Cole, Ashton, Brittany, Steven and wife, Stacy; a great grandson, Caleb John Edward; and a number of nieces, nephews, and other family members.

A funeral service will be conducted on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in Iron Gate Baptist Church with Pastor Hunter Hale officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge. Pallbearers will be Ricky Swoope, George Reynolds, Tommy Persinger, Kenny Lowman, Ross Hammond, and Bobby Knick. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Brown, Ralph Johnson, Timmy Kimberlin, and Bernie Thomas. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Iron Gate Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 193, Iron Gate, VA 24448.

The Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, is handling arrangements.